Tri-State educators track special eduction students and budgets

July 01, 2002

Washington County had 2,925 special education students out of total student population of 19,292 students this past school year, said Martha Roulette, director of student services.

Special education students include those with mental, physical, emotional or learning disabilities, autism, traumatic brain injury, blindness, deafness and speech impairment. In Maryland, special education does not include gifted students.

The county spent $15 to $16 million on special education this past school year, Roulette said. The Board of Education's total operating budget is $125.5 million budget.

Special education programs are paid for with federal, state and Washington County monies, Roulette said.

Frederick County, Md., had 4,537 students in special education programs out of a total student population of 38,204, said Sharon West, director of special education and psychological services.

Special education students include those with mental, physical, emotional or learning disabilities, autism, traumatic brain injury, blindness, deafness and speech impairment.

The special education budget was $21.8 million out of a total operating budget of $273 million, West said.

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Special education programs are paid for with federal, state and Frederick County monies.

Berkeley County, W.Va., had 2,417 special education students in a total student population of approximately 13,000 students, Director of Special Education Ron Brown said.

Of those 2,417 special education students, 305 were gifted students, Brown said. Special education also includes students with mental, physical, emotional or learning disabilities, traumatic injury, and speech, vision or hearing problems, he said.

Of the Board of Education's $90 million budget, about $9 million was spent on special education. Special education programs are paid for with federal, state and Berkeley County monies.

Jefferson County, W.Va., had 1,128 special education students out of a total student population of 7,064, Director of Pupil Services Patrick Blanc said.

While gifted students are designated special education students, Blanc said they are not included in the 1,128.

Special education students also include students with mental, physical, emotional or learning disabilities and students with speech, vision or hearing problems, he said.

Of the Board of Education's $45 million budget, $1 million in federal and state monies was spent on special education, Blanc said.

The Chambersburg (Pa.) Area School District had 1,222 special education students out of 8,000 students this past school year, Director of Special Education Lisa Frantz said.

The 1,222 does not include 200 gifted students even though the same office handles both gifted and special education programs, Frantz said.

Special education students includes students with mental health problems, physical or learning disabilities, behavioral difficulties and speech needs, Frantz said.

Of the Board of Education's $60.3 million budget for the just ended fiscal year, $6.3 million was spent on special education, district Business Manager Rick Vensel said.

Monies from the federal government, the state and the Chambersburg tax base pay for special education programs, Frantz said.

The Waynesboro (Pa.) Area School District had 783 special education students out of 4,130 total students, Director of Special Education Jean Purnell said.

The 783 includes 117 students who were gifted students, Purnell said.

Special education students also include students with mild disabilities to severe or profound disabilities. This includes students with autism, mental health problems, hearing or visual impairment, or speech problems.

Of the Waynesboro's $32 million budget, $3.1 million went to special education programs, district officials said.

Special education programs are paid for with federal, state and Waynesboro Area School District property tax monies, Purnell said.